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Chaos Before During And After Brighton Match

Submitted by nevillenixon on Sat, 21/10/2017 - 11:28

Football fans in general are used to being treated like 3rd class citizens despite paying out huge amounts of money to support their teams, so it came as no surprise that West Ham United's match against 'newly promoted' Brighton & Hove Albion was switched to the new friday night slot 'engineered' by Sky TV.

Those fans who attempted to finish work, maybe pick up their kids for a hastily convened journey to the Olympic Park and the London Stadium were confronted with: The Northern Line being closed, and the Picadilly Line being nearly closed. Those closures were bad enough but the icing on the cake was the Overground suddenly being cancelled, no notice, nada, nothing, just some surly git saying that there was a train that had broken down, no alternative transport and no advice as to an alternative route. Fans were left with little option other than to re-trace their steps, in the Org's case that meant travelling back from Highbury and Islington to Oxford Circus and getting the Central line to the 'Stratford Coral' with it's commensurate half marathon walk to the London Stadium! The reward for the journey being massive queues at the security check points generated by people arriving late due to the transport issues.

Having endured such a trek fans were expectant of a decent match, after all on paper Slaven Billic had selected the 'perfect team' with the exception of 'Sulkman' who was suffering from his perennial back injury, but as we all know football is not played on paper, this match was being played on the vast expanse that was supposed to be a football pitch but to all intents and purposes usually serves as a shop window for visiting teams to show just how fit they are!

Brighton took the lead after 10 minutes when the totally unmarked Glenn Murray headed in Pascal Gross' free-kick, Hammers huffed and puffed with plenty of possession looking for an equaliser, but moments before the break Jose Izquierdo curled past Joe Hart from distance, despite the England goalkeeper getting a strong hand to the ball. Murray added his second from the penalty spot in the 75th minute after he was fouled by Pablo Zabaleta who had up until then been 'covering' for at least three players, the most glaringly obvious of which was Jose Font who spent the entire match compromising not only his defence but also the midfield.
The crowd grew more and more hostile throughout as passes were misplaced, crosses failed to find a team mate, West Ham attempted 33, and shots went high and wide, only two were on target throughout the entire match.
Brighton scored three goals from seven attempts, West Ham had 16 efforts, Brighton could have added further misery as Murray had two good chances saved by Hart, their goalkeeper Mat Ryan was hardly tested.

Despite conceding the penalty, Pablo Zabaleta was West Ham's best player by a country mile as was Reid to a certain extent, but the rest were pants in varying degrees. Probably the worst offender was 'Elbows' Arnoutovic, he stands 6'4" but plays 4'6", he looked about 10 kilos overweight and gave the ball away on 9 out of 10 occasions, when he was finally substituted it got the biggest cheer of the night from the crowd!

By the time the third goal for the visitors was scored, the great edifice that is the Hammer's claret & blue elephant known as the London Stadium, was emptying faster than a Harvey Weinstein ex-employee reunion, but the fun was not over, no British Rail had one final treat in store. Having assured those denied the service earlier that the trains would definitely be up and running way before the end of the match, rail officials were then strangely recalcitrant with their communication when confronted by a huge amount of fans who had left early in disgust, "no trains mate" was the message "it's only a twenty minute walk to Stratford". Those with young kids, especially one family with a disabled child were made to endure another pointless walk, salt in to the wounds anyone?

Ironically with the exception of Sulkman this was the team that fans had been crying out for, unfortunately the players seemed to forget that neither he nor Andy Carroll were playing, they kept banging their crosses in all match, but there wasn't anyone at the end of them!
As they say, be careful what you wish for, it may just happen. - Ed

Comments

its a sad state of affairs. Bilic has had time, they are his players and his team. The nail in his coffin is that we made a journeyman like Murray look like Harry Kane. Time for a change, this lacklustre, muddle of formations and systems will just continue and we'll have no chance of competing. And sorry Nev, that just sounds like a right bucket load of stress and time wasting with the trains etc.

Amazing how when I said something similar late last season you were kicking off like mad pointing to 11th place at that time.
Simple facts are that we did not progress one inch last term and have taken a sizeable step back so far this season.
I now await the hypocrisy of last season's "in Slav we trust" brigade now saying that they never "rated" him in the first place.
My position has always been the same, he would never have been my choice due to the fact that he achieved nothing in Club management after the Croatia job and therefore was never likely to be the man to push the club forward.
When he goes, which I believe he must and almost certainly will by the end of the month, whoever comes in has a big job in making us initially hard to beat, and come January reshaping what looks to me to be an ill balanced and demotivated squad.
The debacle that is the first 2 months of this season has put the progression that we all want and that the club needs, back by 18 months, as whoever comes in will have to rebuild the squad in his own image and style and that will take at least 2 transfer windows along with a solid pre season and a good chunk of next season for it all to knit.
There's no "quick fix" to the position the club is currently in, so the next manager has a huge job on his hands and he must be given the full backing of all, no matter who he is.
I'd hope for Ancelotti, but we'll probably get Mancini, but whoever it is, he'll have my support and good wishes.
But he'll need time so we must be patient and keep the faith.

i call it how i see it. last season was his 2nd, now he's in his 3rd. things haven't improved so the way i see it is he needs to go. sorry, i don't go looking into the archives to see what i said or what you said so we can compare and then give out medals to those who in hindsight were right. for me its just the here and now. peoples opinions are just that, whether right or wrong or irrelevant, they have no impact on the way things go at the club.

Another stupid, puerile, smart arse reply. That's the norm with you. I don't look at archives but i didn't need to as I almost lost count of the number of times you referred to 11th place as if it was the holy grail.
And if you're going to claim that I'm using "hindsight" then you really are showing your ignorance. The problem with you mate, and to be fair ,you're not alone on this forum or others, is that you will over the distance espouse almost every view on every topic, and then stand back and expect us all to look in awe at your insight.
My point remains the same as it was last year, that Bilic would not have been my choice and that we need to bring in a manager who has a set way of playing and can build an efficient unit. Until then, we will continue to struggle. End of!

The one thing that pisses me off more than anything on here Len is the "i told you so "lot,Jesus there were times in Bilics first season we all thought he was in line for canonization,we had some pretty remarkable results cappep by our last match at uppers taking tottalscum down a peg or two ,even pre this season with what we thought were some huge signings the optimism was palpably, so now things have gone pear shaped you get them more vocal than ever "i told you so ,he wasn't my choice "and the best one "i knew this would happen " perhaps the only one with any cred is deluded at least he's said what he always believed that we should have stuck with big Sam ,maybe im the same ,ive been just as holier than thow over uppers and what a bad move it was to go to Q E S,in your post Len you say "he wouldn't have been my choice ,well it might be interesting to know who was your choic mate concidering he was the last one on a short list of 5
So stop havin a go at each other and lets show the rest of the premiership that we are indeed UNITED

but arent you now an 'I told you so'? if you're pointing out that you were right, and implying that means a lot to you then are you not saying I told you so? what happens if bilic beats palace and moves up table? are those who backed him to say told you so?

So anyone who says what they think is "I told you so?" Surely that's all we a doing. Saying what we think. There might be a bit of credibility in what you say le use if you could quote examples of treating bilic as the messiah in his first season. Good luck with that one with me. Tbh no one comes across as I told you so to me or I knew this would happen. I'm assuming you now think some people are right by that post. Don't see why anyone should be classed as this if people have now been proved right in you opinion.

Messiah? I never used that word and I don't recall anyone else using it, but just look at what people were saying over the last 18 months and you'll see that there was a groundswell on this forum that he was something special, the man to take us forward.
I never did and I said so, but there were others who having kicked off at me - and others - over it with masses of cheap unfunny jibes, that have now effectively stood on their heads over it and that get's up my nose big time.
So, at the risk of repeating myself, my view has remained consistent and will remain so, he's not the man, never was, and never will be. But if the board decide to keep him on I'll give him my 100% support as it's all about the team, not individuals, and certainly not all about the opinions of us on here.

its not about the 'word', surely the point is clear he's making? why everything so literal? jeez. this citing me in every post is amusing lol. we had a discussion (from what you say) and we disagreed, you keep making out like you were physically beaten up or something.

It's not just you, but you're the one who made the most noise when I posted as you do on everything else on here. My issue is with hypocrisy per sey, not just with you as an individual.
Cue another ridiculous attempt at a humorous put down.......

Yeah ok lenuse, admittedly no one ever called him a messiah. It was my turn of phrase. I thought if I over exaggerated things it might be regarded as light hearted. Tbh I quite expected someone to say "he's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy". I suppose it was just another one of those unfunny jokes.

I would read Lenuse s post again if i were you ,my comments were replying to him saying that the i love Bilic brigade are now hypocrites for saying now he should go ,look im sayin at that time double over pooh 4 points off shitty and more fantastic results the general feeling around this club was euphoric

I'm not saying "I told you so", I'm just pointing out hypocrisy.
Ok, you want to know, once Benitez was out of the frame then I would have gone for Dyche on the strength of what I witnessed first hand when he was at Watford.
he's a coach that understands the game, understands players individually and collectively, his sessions are imaginative but simple and he has a vision as to where he wants to progress to and a sound method as to how to achieve it.
Anyone who knows me would tell you that. To me, Sean Dyche is one of the best British managers/coaches that we have produced in the last decade and I'd welcome him with open arms.

I know I don't, but that's the point of these forums, to air opinions. Mine has been consistent from day one and has remained the same, even during that last terrific season at Upton Park I said that Bilic would not be my choice, and in spite of the results that were achieved that year my viewpoint didn't change.
I don't post much on here, but the hypocrisy being espoused made me challenge it, but the problem is that certain people on here - one in particular - spout on and on as if they are the font of all knowledge on any given topic and frequently contradict themselves.
Then, when someone comes on and points that out, they start trying to be clever with ineffectual, cheap, unfunny put downs.
That's what this forum has become lately and it's a real shame.
So to get back to your last comment, NO WAY do I want "credit" for anything, that's not what I said in the first place, and nor am I saying "I told you so". I'm just pointing out the fact that last season you were kicking off at me when I stated that Bilic wasn't the man and was unlikely ever to be, and now you're saying the same thing. That is hypocrisy whichever way you spin it.

thing is you lose credibility when you initiate a post that states you were right 6 months ago. it means you want to come on here to make a point of being right and others 'wrong'. that to me says that theres some sort of need for a pat on the back, a show of appreciation or something for your wondrous insight. i said he was 11th? so? it was a fact. you can't change that now because he's not doing well? 11th is 11th as i told you before. he's not 11th now and the season isn't about to end either. oh and also, what makes you think that because he's doing pants now, it means he should've gone last season? that is mere hindsight. its like saying lets go back over everyones previous posts, find out who was on the right side in one discussion at a particular time and say who was right now months later, its childish. i think perhaps you need to take opinions as they are, some people come on here to have a light hearted banter about the club, players, manager etc. you come across as thinking its a site only for people to give an opinion the same as yours, or to be more to the point, to give you a pat on the back when you are 'right'. its interesting that you have this deep set concern about my posts, most people couldn't care less what i post, todays post is tomorrows has been. try to realise perhaps that this isn't a big deal, its not real life mate, its a site about football. also, people can read all the above, they can see themselves who is the name caller, the keyboard warrior..ive not sent a single personal insult your way.

With world class facilities and it will be easier to get to and from than it was at upton park when you were herded like sheep to the station....i wonder how many of you people who attend the new ground feel about it now....i choose not to and never will attend a game at that joke of a "football" stadium...i wonder how many will be making the trek when in the championship

then you have missed out my friend. This is a fabulous stadium, the facilities are great and now the stewarding has improved dramatically. I dont hold with issues with security, in fact I think they should be more intense given the era we now live with the threat of terrorism on a daily basis. Upton Park was a joke regards infrastructure, it was our home and has great memories but time to move on. We have everything going for us apart from inept board / owners who I predict will be gone in a matter of a few year. Change the top and bring the players inline.

To the OS 4 times now in different parts of the ground, including the vastly over-rated Club 66 seats purely so I could give an opinion based on facts and not hearsay. Its definitely not a stadium, more an arena and is assembled like a Meccano kit. The view is horrendous (66 seats included), the trek to and from the ground abysmal, facilities poor such as pubs and eateries, and those inside the ground over priced and rank. Upton Park and the Boleyn had its faults, but it knocks Stratford into a tin hat. Apart from all that, we OWNED it so no-one told as when we can play there or when not. Been there, done that and got the T shirt. I'm an armchair fan from now on unless I can get some awayday tickets. And to do that travelling the football needs to exceed todays rubbish back to at least Big Sams standards.

Good post DH, But I hope you respect that I say it as I see it. In block 227 in the Brooking Stand I think the view is brilliant, seats are comfortable and plenty of room for movement. I have never said it was a football stadium and consistently forecast that one day WHU will own the LS as the tax payer will want rid and it will be reshaped... watch this prophesy :o)

Disagree that the facilities are poor, more toilets etc, food IS suspect, but overpriced compared to what? A pint of Amsteal is cheaper in the LS than the Bat n Ball in Westfield. With UP we owned a small stadium with no chance of rebuilding, no ambition, one pathetic tube station that after the game had a wait of nearly an hour to get on the platform and some pretty toxic days but we continue to sing about Johnny L's claret n blue army, well I remember lots of people calling for the hero's head particularly last home game V Liverpool when demoted. Enjoy the armchair, me... Im gunna carry on supporting my club and enjoy the roller coaster ride like beating Chavski in the LC and Spudz in the Prem... Bring it on, Come On You Irons... West Ham til I die!!!!

The stewarding hasn’t improved and the next time you are standing in a huge crowd in a small area with barriers either side waiting for the joke of a security check just think........let’s hope to god that nothing happens as we are all very vulnerable. I observed this a few weeks ago and decided to ask one of the chief stewards his thoughts and his response was? You should all get here at 12:30 and this wouldn’t happen! And you say the stewarding has improved, do me a favour mate it’s a joke as they are clueless!

The response from the chief steward was stupid and that clown needs to be reprimanded. I said "improved" and far from ideal. That said, I approached the stadium from Westfield at 18.50 and spent no more than 5 minutes in the security check, I can only say it as I see it. On the way back, and for the record I never leave early, but on Friday night the stadium was close to empty at the whistle, I walked unhindered straight to Stratford station via the bridge and walked straight onto the Central line west. I chose a seat in the Brooking end as it was closer to the station to save time. Be quite clear my fellow Hammer Im no mouthpiece for the porn dwarfs I just share my experience which is better than last season.

We have had only ONE decent performance at the L.S,which was against the spuds (which we should be up for regardless of the stadium)...all the other wins (& there isnt many) were lucky against sides who really should have got at least a point.We have had many tonkings there,culminating in the defeat to the mighty Brighton...
& people still believe it is a fantastic move for westham!!

Remember that we were promised CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football once we moved to this athletics track....oops....I mean football ground! Note I use the word 'ground', as no matter how swanky the surroundings are, it's what happens on the pitch that counts. CHAMPIONSHIP football more like!! Did you notice that not ONE fan was consulted on the move from the Boleyn???
Our fan base is and has always been mostly working class. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone there....but I loved the Upton Park station experience because we could call it 'home'.
It wasn't called 'Fortress Boleyn' for nothing either, as we wended our way back to the station in the knowledge we'd won more often than not.
I've been a fan for 47 years....and was born with no legs and only one arm.
My dad's best mate used to take me when I wore my little artificial legs when I was ten.
Touts used to give us free tickets when it was 'sold out'....and we were allowed into the players entrance to go into the lift.
I've got a treasured photo of Bobby Moore and myself playing football.
I refuse to go to the London Stadium as a matter of principle

Well, we get another chance to be messed about in a months time when we play Leicester on Friday 24th November. By "engineering this slot what Sky are doing is to turn the fans off of going to the match, and We can see by the tales of woe that I've just read that it will probably work, but what sky should remember is no fans, no atmosphere and we all know these players need The West Ham fans behind them. So why us ??? why can't we have the right to say NO its Spurs or Chelsea's turn. Wonder how much money G&S get for televising these matches, or if its an across the board payment for all premier clubs, If it is then we all should make sure that we don't keep having to put up with this and are not shit on because this slot is very difficult to get to. And why is the Olimpic stadium being picked the most having a look through the sky football schedule the only other Friday night game this year is Arsenal v Liverpool on Dec 22nd. I think this an unfair and to top it all they even had us pencilled in For Christmas Eve against Newcastle. Bet you anything that these fixtures are about one thing MONEY and the loyal fans will still try to get there to support there beloved West ham but I for one think that Sky are taking the piss and our board should say, Pick someone else, we've had our go. Mind you probably suit gold to play he won't worry he will be in the Carribean anyway on his yacht sipping his Pina coladas over the Christmas eve, while we will be stuck at Stratford waiting for our trains

agree CI, someone has to say no to the media and the people in charge. Im not a great fan of the Fridays but hate more the Monday nights, crazy with work the next day. But my biggest beef is the selection of the first games of the season, three years on the bounce we have been away to a top 6 club!

Apparently according to the Daily Express Bilic has said his goodbyes to the players and has offered his resignation. Can he turn it around against Spuds at Wembley if he is still around? After all West Ham's performance at that stadium has always been either historic as in the FA Cup final loss against Liverpool, or West Ham have walked away with the trophies in the bag, in a clinical manner.